Sweetest Peach Varieties

There are dozens of peach varieties, and each individual strain has certain characteristics. Some are self-pollinating, while others may be stone free. There are also many different flavors in these varieties. Some have a very strong and fruity taste, while others have sweetness and soft flesh. The sweetest peach varieties serve a dual purpose of being both excellent to eat fresh and ideal for canning or baking.

Redhaven peaches have a yellow interior color that deepens to a reddish blush towards the center near the pit. The flesh is very firm and the taste is very sweet. This variety does not brown once cut, making it suitable for use in fruit salads, or in pies and cobblers. This is an early-bearing peach that quickly matures. The trees are typically quite productive and self-fertile, so only one is needed.

Red Globe produces very large fruits that are almost baseball-to-softball size at maturity. The fruits have golden undertones overlaid with a very bright red color. The interior is bright yellow and does not change to red. It is often found in farmers' markets as well as grocery stores. Suitable for freezing, canning or eating fresh, this variety is also self-fertile.

The Polly variety is a white peach. This variety was designed for colder climates and was first hybridized in Iowa. The tree withstands temperatures down to minus 20 degrees. The fruits are white on the exterior with a slight reddish blush. The interior is white but some feature reddish tones. The fruit is sweet and best eaten when fresh. This productive peach variety is self-fertile.

Elberta is a common variety prized for its sweet flavor and large fruit size. This is a traditional peach with a peachy-orange exterior blushed with a little red. The interior is bright orange tending towards red at the center. The fruits are typically about baseball sized at maturity. This versatile variety can be eaten fresh, frozen, canned or baked. This peach variety is self-fertile.